Troubleshootoing performance problems in sql server with sys.dm_os_wait_stats

The SQL Server DMV sys.dm_os_wait_stats is a well established DMV , used heavily in troubleshooting performance problems in SQL Server.

The DMV is an aggregated view on all the sql server wait types . When a thread is executed part of the runtime are waits. sys.dm_os_wait_stats presents the wait type aggregates. It is also possible to break down the waits at a query level.

It’s useful to understand the meaning of the columns.

Wait_time_msTotal = wait time for this wait type in milliseconds. This time is inclusive of signal_wait_time_ms

signal_wait_time_ms= Difference between the time that the waiting thread was signaled and when it started running

It is useful to split the wait_time_ms into sub components. By subtracting signal_wait_time_ms from Wait_time_ms it is possible to differentiate between when a thread is waiting for a resource to become available allowing the thread to progress versus when a thread has the resources available and is waiting for CPU.

To understand the meaning behind these concepts read SQL Server RUNNABLE SUSPENDED RUNNING status model ...

Some more useful reading on wait type analysis

Find sql queries matching wait types (SQL Server DBA)

Troubleshooting BACKUPTHREAD wait type (SQL Server DBA)

SQL WAIT TYPE OLEDB and how to reduce it (SQL Server DBA)

SQL Server IO_COMPLETION and how to reduce it